Water barrier

ABSTRACT

Water barrier including a frame having tow posts and at least one sill extending therebetween, which posts and sill bound a passage that can be closed off against water, further including a flexible water-retaining cloth, a storage space for the cloth and a transfer element for transferring the cloth from a storage condition accommodated in the storage space, wherein the passage is open, to a water-retaining condition, wherein the passage is at least partially closed off by the cloth.

The invention relates to a water barrier, in particular to a waterbarrier which can be transferred from an inoperative position into awater-retaining condition and vice versa.

Water barriers comprising a watertight cloth are known, such as from DE35 27 100, and from DE 20 56 356. From these documents water barriersare known wherein a cable is provided in a seam of the cloth, whichcable, at intermediate distances, is attached to pole structures.

It is an object of the invention to provide a water barrier of the typementioned in the preamble that is able to provide a reliable sealing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a water barrier that issuitable to function in a passage that is usually used by people and/orvehicles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a water barrier that takesup little space in the inoperative condition.

For achieving at least one of these objects the invention, according toone aspect, provides a water barrier comprising a frame bounding apassage that is to be closed off against water, further comprising aflexible water-retaining cloth, a storage space for the cloth andtransfer means for transferring the cloth from a storage conditionaccommodated in the storage space, wherein the passage is open, to awater-retaining condition, wherein the passage is at least partiallyclosed off by the cloth.

In one embodiment the frame has two posts and a sill extendingtherebetween. The sill can be a bottom sill or a top sill.

In an advantageous embodiment as regards space, the water barriercomprises means for rolling up the cloth or folding it together in thestorage space.

The storage space can be situated in the sill. Alternatively the storagespace can be situated in a post of the frame.

In a first further development of the water barrier according to theinvention the transfer means comprise a drive mechanism, which comprisesa driven element that drivingly engages onto a longitudinal edge of thecloth, which longitudinal edge extends in direction of movement of thecloth between the storage condition and the water-retaining conditionedge of the cloth. In that way the movement of the cloth can becontrolled to a large extent. This is further enhanced when the drivenelement is endless and circulating and at evenly distributed locationsdrivingly engages onto the longitudinal edge of the cloth.

The driving element may extend over at least substantially the entirepassage, parallel to the direction of movement of the cloth.

In one embodiment the driven element only engages onto the part of thecloth that has been discharged from the storage space, as a result ofwhich the storage space can be simple.

In a particular embodiment the cloth is provided with a series of holesin the longitudinal edge and the driven element is provided withprojections for driving engagement in the holes. As a result the clothcan be entirely flat, which is advantageous for storage, particularly ona roll. Both longitudinal edges can be designed in that way. The clothmay in essence have the appearance of a film for a projector or camera.

In a further embodiment the driven element engages onto a lowerlongitudinal edge of the cloth.

In an alternative embodiment the driven element engages onto a verticallongitudinal edge of the cloth, wherein preferably a driven elementengages onto each vertical longitudinal edge of the cloth.

An alternative further embodiment of the water barrier according to theinvention is described in claims 15-21 and the other claims dependingthereon, particularly claim 57, the contents of which claims should beconsidered inserted here.

Preferably with the longitudinal edge or longitudinal edges, the clothis directly or indirectly guided in a (stationary) guide/in guides. Saidguide may have an access for the cloth, which access is situated alignedwith the main plane of the cloth.

According to a particular further development of the water barrieraccording to the invention the barrier is provided with means for, incase of slight outgoing movement of the cloth out of the access,clamping the cloth in or with respect to the guide. As a result when thecloth is loaded, because of which the cloth will tend to bulge and theedges of the cloth will want to move towards each other, as if of itsown accord a clamping force will be generated that stops the cloth andthe cloth edges from moving further. Said clamping force can also beutilised for watertightness along the cloth edges.

In a compact embodiment the driven element forms an operating means forthe clamping means.

The clamping means may comprise at least one clamping block, preferablytwo cooperating clamping blocks situated on both sides of the cloth, andwhich can be accommodated in the guide so as to be stationary inlongitudinal direction. They may be deformable themselves, in order tothen start clamping the cloth. In that case use can be made of wedgingaction as well. It is also possible to make use of clamping blocks thatare shape-retaining and will provide the clamping force through wedgingaction with the guide.

The clamping means may comprise a clamping strip, which with anengagement edge, preferably an edge that does not slip with the cloth,can be pressed against the cloth, preferably a clamping strip obliquewith regard to the cloth and having a directional component orientedtowards the cloth edge, wherein preferably on both sides of the clothsuch clamping strips are active, clamping the cloth with theirengagement edges in between them. In one embodiment the clamping stripcan be pressed against the cloth by deformation of the clamping block.

The driven element may form a pressure means for bringing the clampingblock into the cloth clamping condition. Advantageously the pressuremeans itself can be driven by movement of the cloth out of the access inorder to clamp the cloth in the guide. Said projections can be part ofthe pressure means.

In order to limit the frictional forces along the clamping blocks andthe like in the direction of the longitudinal edge, the projections canbe rotatably attached to the driven element, particularly be rollingfreely over the wedge, particularly rotatable about centre lines thatare transverse to the cloth.

According to a further aspect the access of the guide is wedge-shaped orthe guide contains said wedges at that location for clamping the clothedge by wedging action, in the water-retaining condition of the cloth.

The access of the guide can be provided with sealing means, for instancea resilient closing lip.

The driven element can be a toothed belt, wherein the teeth form theprojections.

It is also possible to make use of a driven element in the form of atoothed cable. Such an embodiment may be advantageous because as aresult of its cross-section it can more easily be fittingly and slidablyaccommodated in a guide. In turn this is advantageous in preventing dirtfrom penetrating, particularly undesirable when the guide is situated ina bottom sill. The teeth can then extend sidewards, so that the cablecan be upwardly shielded.

In a further development of the water barrier according to the inventionthe cloth comprises a leading edge, provided with a stiffening for it.

In a further development thereof having a bottom sill and two posts, thestiffening is guided with a lower end in a bottom sill, particularly arail. The guiding of the stiffening in the bottom sill can then bedesigned for keeping the stiffening upright during its movement.

The first post can be adapted for keeping the stiffening in the storageposition of the cloth. The second post can be adapted for keeping thestiffening in the water-retaining condition of the cloth. At least oneof the posts can be attached to or be part of a building.

In that way a multiple water barrier can be made in an advantageousmanner, for instance over a public space between two buildings situatedon either side of a road. In that case the water barriers connect toeach other in the water-retaining condition.

In one simple embodiment at least two adjacently positioned waterbarriers have one common post. Said common post may be provided with astorage space for the cloth of the one water barrier and with means forholding the leading edge of the cloth of the other adjacent waterbarrier. Alternatively the common post may be provided with a storagespace for the cloth of the one water barrier and with a storage spacefor the cloth of the other adjacent water barrier.

In a further development the frame comprises a post or sill providedwith an accommodation space for the leading edge with stiffening in thewater-retaining condition. The accommodation space can be provided withoperable locking means for locking the stiffening in the accommodationspace. The post or sill in question can be provided with a water sealcooperating with the cloth.

The stiffening may be part of means for guiding the edge or edgestransverse to the leading edge and along one or more sills, or one ormore posts, respectively.

The storage space can be provided with an accommodation space for thestiffening.

In a further development the transfer means comprise tensioning meansfor at least in the storage condition, pre-tensioning the cloth towardsthe water-retaining condition. In a further development thereof, whereinthe transfer means comprise a roller for rolling up the cloth and adrive for it, the tensioning means comprise a torsion spring which istensioned when rolling up, which torsion spring preferably is at leastlargely accommodated in the roller.

Creases in the cloth can be further counteracted when means are providedthat press against the roller and that stretch the cloth in sidewarddirection in order to prevent creases during rolling up.

The storage space preferably is provided with a water-sealingcooperating with the cloth.

The cloth, which is watertight, preferably is manufactured of ultrahigh-strength fibres, particularly of PE, which cloth is flexible, canbe rolled up and shows little stretch. An example is Dyneema (registeredtrademark).

The invention furthermore, according to a further aspect, provides acloth for a water barrier, wherein the cloth can be rolled up and at oneor both longitudinal edges is provided with a series of holes forcooperation with projections of a drive for the cloth.

The posts and/or sill with storage space can be permanent.

According to a further aspect the invention provides a continuousassembly of several water barriers according to the invention.

The passage may form a passage for man or vehicle.

The transfer means can be remote controlled or be operated through selftiming.

The aspects and measures described in this description and the claims ofthe application and/or shown in the drawings of this application maywhere possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects maythe subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. Thisparticularly applies to the measures and aspects that are described perse in the sub claims.

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplaryembodiments shown in the attached drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B show a number of schematic arrangements of a waterbarrier according to the invention;

FIGS. 1C-1E show an example of a multiple arrangement with waterbarriers according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an example of a winding mechanism of a cloth in a waterbarrier according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a top sill with an example of aprovision for securing an upper strip on a cloth in a water barrieraccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the outer end of a winding mechanism for acloth of a water barrier according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of a cloth edge and a guide for it, includingclamping provision;

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a cloth edge includingclamping provision;

FIG. 7 shows a detail of an alternative drive for a cloth in a waterbarrier according to the invention and a view of the cloth;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show in horizontal, schematic cross-section, the driveof FIG. 7, the cloth edge and its guide, respectively, in the conditionwhen paying out and in water-loaded condition of the cloth;

FIG. 9 shows a view of an alternative embodiment of a cloth for a waterbarrier according to the invention;

FIGS. 10A-C show a top view of a sill for a water barrier according tothe invention, with post that can be moved along it at the leading edgeof a cloth;

FIGS. 11A-C show cross-sections according to a-a, b-b and c-c in FIGS.10A-C; and

FIG. 11D shows a detailed cross-section of the sill of FIGS. 11A-C.

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of the water-retaining cloth or sheetaccording to the invention, for closing off a passage bounded by abottom sill, two posts and a top sill. The cloth 10 has been pulled upout of the bottom sill 20. At least at one of the vertical edges thecloth is provided with a seam 10 a, which is guided by the post 1 upinto the top sill 21. The cloth 10 is also provided with a seam at thetop or front side, in which seam, possibly over only a part of the seamlength, a stretching strip 22 is placed. Said stretching strip 22 can beclamped in a pull-tight manner in the top sill 21, also see FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1A there is no top sill. The cloth or sheet is in this casepulled up out of the sill 20 by mechanical means which are provided inor via the posts 10. At the top side a seam including stretching stripor stiffening 22 is provided.

At at least one side a seam 10 a is provided when using a cloth, or anengagement relief when using a sheet according to FIG. 6.

In FIGS. 1 and 1A the cloth 10 can be rolled up or folded up in thebottom or storage side 20. For that purpose the cloth is connected to awinding bush 12 or folding mechanism so as to be able to be rolled up orfolded up, also see FIG. 2. It is noted that an embodiment is alsopossible wherein the cloth/sheet is stored in a top sill and is thenextended downwards. Furthermore several water barriers can form acontinuous series.

The winding bush 12 is situated in the sill 20. The location of thefunctions in the sill 20 and the upper girder 21 shown areinterchangeable (top-bottom or bottom-top) or can be used vertically,see FIG. 1B. In that case the—in this case vertical—girder 21 is fixatedat some distance from—in this case vertical—sill 20 by at least onehorizontal member 1, in which a guide profile 3 is placed. In that casea rail function is suggested in horizontal member 1, which is inhorizontal position here, which enables guiding and fixating thestretching strip or stiffening 22 up into the vertically placed girder21.

The cloth or sheet 10 is composed of an ultra high-strength superfibre-based fabric, a fibre of an extremely high tensile force that canbe fixated with a coating. The cloth 10 is impermeable to water.

The cloth 10 is paid out and retracted using a draw wire 6 b, which isattached to the upper edge of the cloth 10, at the level of thestretching strip 22. Stretching wires 6 a are accommodated in the seam10 a, which with their upper ends at the level of the stretching strip22 can be attached to the draw wire 6 b, optionally forming thecontinuation thereof. They form a thickening of the cloth edge. Thestretching wires 6 a may optionally also be attached to the stretchingstrip, just like the draw wire 6 b.

In FIGS. 1C-E an example is shown of a multiple arrangement with waterbarriers according to the invention. Situated between two buildings andplaced on either side of a road are posts or columns, the outermostposts fixed to or contiguous to the buildings and in between a number ofposts, two at the road edges and one in the middle on an elevation. Theposts are visible to traffic, for instance by means of a reflectivecoating. At the top they are provided with operable signals, such astones or lights which are perceptible when the water barrier is beingclosed off and/or has been closed off. Between the posts, connectedthereto, rails 1 are accommodated in the ground level/road surface.

The first post 20, at the building on the right hand side, is adaptedfor discharging a first water-retaining sheet/cloth 10 a, from itsstorage space. At the leading end the cloth/sheet is provided with astiffening, pillar. The second post 20/21 is both provided with astorage space for the next cloth/sheet and with means for holding thestiffening 22 of the first cloth/sheet 10 a. The third and fourth posts20/21 are designed in a similar manner. The fifth post 21 again issimpler and has means for holding the stiffening 22 of the fourthcloth/sheet 10 d.

At the bottom side the stiffenings 22 are straight-up movably supportedand guided by the rails 1, using driving means that are not furthershown. The stiffening may for instance at the bottom, in the foot, beguided so as to slide or roll with a guiding member in the rail, drivenby means of a cable or the like, extending between both posts.

When high water level is imminent, FIG. 10, the water barriers areoperated, automatically. Traffic is warned by means of visual and/oracoustic signals. Wireless communication means with motorists, such asvia telephone or navigation system, can also be made use of. Thesignals, particularly signals indicating a completed closed position,can also be transmitted to a control room so that it is known when theclosed position has been reached. The signals can also be used forwarning and diverting traffic at a distance before of the water barrier.

In FIG. 1D the cloth/sheet 10 a with the stiffening 22 of the firstwater barrier is engaged by the second post 20/21. With the three-sidedframe of the rail and both posts the first cloth/sheet 10 a forms awatertight structure. At the lower edge the cloth/sheet is engaged by awedge as a result of which it can be loaded with the water pressure thatarises. The second, third and fourth cloth/sheet 10 b-d are paid out. Inthat connection also see FIGS. 10A-C and 11 A-C.

In FIG. 1E all water barriers are closed off with cloths/sheets 10 a/d.

FIG. 2 shows an example of mechanical means with which the cloth orsheet 10 can be rolled up or rolled out. A winding bush 12 and an innerbush 13 with support foot 14 are rotatably connected to the sill 20. Thewinding bush 12 is able to rotate both clockwise and anti-clockwise. Onedirection is set for accommodating the cloth 10 in the frame, the otherdirection is set for releasing the cloth for erecting/closing off thewater barrier.

In order to let the winding bush 12 rotate motion, a torsion spring 17can be used, which can be tensioned in radial direction due to rotation.In addition a drive of the winding bush 12 is provided via powerful drawsprings or torsion springs that are placed in, or in the vicinity of theposts 1. The pre-tensioning can be achieved through external mechanicalmeans such as a hand crank or mechanical means. In that way power ispre-installed to become available on cue for erecting the cloth 10 bywinding draw wire 6 b up on roller 15.

The release of cloth 10 can among others be achieved by means of anelectromagnetic unlocking 19 which on (remote) signal releases theroller 15. The roller 15 is rotatable to a limited degree around theinner bush 13 in order to compensate for a difference in diameteroccurring between the rolled up cloth and rolling in the draw wire 6 b.The winding bush 12 may be provided with an internal roller motor ortube motor that ensures rolling up or rolling down in an electricallydriven manner.

The roller 15 is provided for pulling in draw wire 6 b and with thebundle of stretching wires 6 a, in the seam 10 a, bringing the cloth 10in the operational position according to FIGS. 1. In FIG. 2 the stop 3 bshows how a side of the guide 3 coincides with an edge at the sill 20 sothat the cloth 10 in the operational position abuts the frame in awatertight manner. The space 11 in the sill 20 is storage space for thestretching strip 22 in rolled up condition of the cloth or sheet 10.

Worm 18 is the drive point for the external means (such as a crank orhand drill machine) which makes it possible to let the roller 15 rotateso that winding bush 12 rolls up the cloth 10 and at the same timeprovides the torsion spring 17 with pre-tension again.

FIG. 3 shows a method in which the stretching strip 22 is fixed in thetop girder 21. Said stretching strip 22 is also placed as engagementmember at the front side of the cloth in the direction of movement andcan be pulled into the girder 21 by means of draw wire 6 b, wherein inthe interior of the girder 21, a movable element 23 is provided that isable to perform a clamping function with another, possibly fixed element24, at the opposing side. The element 23 can be lowered, or pulled up bywire 27 that can be selectively operated by means of a flight 28 onroller 25.

FIG. 4 shows the space 16 created by the difference in diameter betweenthe winding bush 12 and the inner bush 13 at the indicated location.Said space is available to compensate for the volume difference betweenthe rolled up cloth 10 and the seam 10 a with the stretching wires 6 ain there. In both FIG. 4 and in FIG. 5 the seam 10 a is shown in theoperational position. In FIG. 4 the seam can also be seen as 10 a+6 a.This specific condition is the solution for the storage of the volume ofthe seam with the draw wire in there.

By composing the stretching wire 6 a in the seam 10 a from loose wiresthe shape of the seam 10 a is able to adapt to different functions. Inaddition the condition 10 a+6 a can be achieved by rolling the seam 10 aalong a roller 13 a wherein the seam 10 a with the loose wires 6 a inthere, acquire a flattened condition (one-dimensionally groupedarrangement) so that more windings can be accommodated in space 16.

In case the cloth is released again for the operational position theflat seam 10 a with the stretching wires 6 a in there will have toassume the shape according to FIG. 5 again (two-dimensionally groupedarrangement, such as an ellipse or circle). For that purpose afunnel-shaped part 3 a of the guide 3 is provided. The shown teeth inthe inner bush offer the possibility to move it radially with thewinding bush in order to make rolling up and rolling out the clothpossible.

FIG. 5 shows a number of loose stretching wires 6 a in cross-sectionthat are bundled together in the seam 10 a by a pull in the transversedirection in order to form a body in that way that presses against thewedges 30. Thereby said wedges 30 will want to move in transversedirection within the profile 3 of the guide, and thus will perform aclamping function on the seam 10 a in the area of 30 b as a result ofwhich the transverse forces that the cloth 10 may exert, are utilised toprevent shifting of the seam. The clamping cooperation between cloth 10,wedges 30 and guide profile 3 is such that it also results inwatertightness.

The wedges 30 can be of relatively hard material and the profile 3 ofthe guide of relatively softer material, in order to thus achieve animproved watertightness. This softer, resilient material also enables toachieve a damping action for cases/moments at which heavy forces areexerted on the water-retaining cloth due to heavy wave action or as aresult of impacts due to collisions. High peak tensions are thuscounteracted, as the tensions are better distributed over the cloth, asa result of which the loadability of the structure increases.

The said resilience also allows for tension of the cloth with theshortest distance to the guide with seam at the level of an impact beingdispersed to a certain degree and the chance of the clamping of the seambeing sufficient being increased.

FIG. 6 shows a cloth 10 according to the invention that can be clampedwith wedges 30. Said clamping can be necessary when using a more rigid,sheet-shaped material, that cannot be folded flat but can indeed beslightly bent around and then being unable to follow the deformationlike in FIG. 4/5, other than being rolled up. By arranging a reliefeither in or on the coating on the side edges of sheet 10, grip can beexerted on the sheet 10 by means of a counter relief 30 a at the insideof the wedges 30 as a result of which forces that are orientedtransverse can be taken.

In FIG. 7 and further the cloth 10 is furthermore provided with a seriesof holes 110 at the longitudinal edge(s). In the manner of a film saidseries of holes 110 is intended for engagement by projections on adrive. Special is that the drive in this case runs parallel to thelongitudinal edge, and therefore engages the longitudinal edge over aconsiderable length. The drive is in this case a toothed belt 16, whichis provided with teeth 16 a, 16 b on both sides. The teeth 16 afittingly mesh with the holes 110. The teeth 16 b serve as engagementmeans for the actual drive, a wheel 13 driven by motor 40 and rotatableon foot 14 in the bottom sill 20 and provided with holes for fitting,driving accommodation of the teeth 16 b. The cloth itself can be rolledup on roller 12 rotatable about axis 12 a.

In the vertical end view on the left hand side in FIG. 7 it can be seenthat the cloth 10 extends between wedge blocks 30 a,b that are placed ina section 3 accommodating wedge blocks 30 a,b, as a result of which aguide for the cloth 10 is formed near the cloth edge. The section 3 isrelatively shape-retaining or rigid, also see the horizontalcross-section of FIG. 8A. The wedge blocks 30 a,b, for instance ofvulcanised TP, are provided with vertical, parting slits 31, that have astraight portion 31 a and a round end portion 31 b. Because of this thewedge blocks 30 a,b are divided into parts that are able to turn withrespect to each other, at the location of the cloth 10 towards eachother. The cloth 10 extends from the longitudinal edge, where it hasbeen engaged by the belt 16, in between the wedge blocks 30 a,b, throughthe opening 3 a in guide 3, to the field where the cloth has to retainthe water. At the location of the belt 16 wedge block 30 a is providedwith an integrally formed shoulder 30 c. At that side wedge block 30 bhas an abutment surface 30 d.

In the condition of FIG. 8A the cloth 10 can be moved. The cloth 10 hereneed not be subjected to much counterforce from the wedge blocks 30 a,b,which in that case leave a sufficient slit for guiding the cloth 10. Incase in the field the cloth will tend to bulge due to water pressure, aforce F, see FIG. 8B will be exerted on the cloth, as a result of whichthe longitudinal edge on the drawing will tend to the right. Due toholes 110 and teeth 16 a meshing, a force G is exerted on the belt 16,which as a result with tooth 16 a presses (H) against shoulder 30 c, andstarts movement/deformation of the wedge block 30 a. The belt 16 withside 16 c then also starts to press against plane 30 d of wedge block 30b and starts movement/deformation (I) of wedge block 30 b. Both blocks30 a,b are subjected to counterforce from guide 3, indicated by smallforce arrows. Due to the slits 31 the wedge blocks 30 a,b are able todeform, see arrows M1 and M2, as a result of which their surfaces facingthe cloth 10 are clamped against the cloth, resulting in the cloth beingstopped from further movement out of the passage 3 a. The cloth 10 isthus secured to said edge. At the opposite longitudinal edge the samestructure can be present in case of posts. The clamping cooperationbetween cloth, wedge blocks and profile enhances the watertightnessalong the cloth edge.

In case the clamping force needs to be very high, use can be made of thepresence of the slits 31, by placing a steel clamping strip 3 therein,which has a thickened origin 32 b fitting in the round portion 31 b anda strip member 32 a. Due to the deformation of the wedge blocks 41 a,bthe clamping strips 32 rotate along, directions N1 and N2 wherein theiracute edges 32 c facing each other forcefully engage in the cloth,co-operatively. Due to the inclined position of the strips 32 a kind oflocking against movement to the right of the cloth 10 is achieved.

In case during paying out or retracting the cloth 10 the teeth 16 a aresubjected to too much friction from the shoulder 30 c, see FIG. 9, thebelt may be provided with flat rollers 16 a′, that are freely rotatable(P) and which cooperate with in that case circular holes 110′ in thecloth 10′.

It is remarked that resilient sealing lips may be provided along theprofiles in order to seal the cloth against water near its access. Thismay be supplementary to the said watertight function of the wedges.

In the water barrier of FIGS. 10-11 use is also made of the “filmcloth”. The cloth 10 is in that case horizontally extended, like inFIGS. 1C-E, wherein the lower longitudinal edge is provided with holes110. The lower longitudinal edge extends in a bottom sill or rails 1sunk in the bottom, with case 200, usually covered by lid 26. The bottomsill 1 extends between two walls 60, provided with a first post 61 a anda second post 61 b, respectively. Cloth 10 is rolled up in the firstpost 61 a. The leading edge of the cloth 10 is attached to a verticalstiffening 64. It has a double foot 64 a,64 b that is slidable in tubes201,202 in case 200. The tubes 201,202 have a circular cross-section.

Over their remaining lengths the tubes 201, 202 offer room to cables 16and 17, in a fitting yet easily slidable manner. Cable 16 is providedwith a series of teeth 16 a, that are able to engage into the holes 110of cloth 10 in order to take it along. Cable 17 is a return cable and isin series with cable 16 and forms a unity therewith that canreciprocally circulate in tubes 201, 202, which at their ends merge intoeach other at transitions that are not shown.

When the water barrier has to be deployed, locking device 62 isautomatically released from lock 63 a in post 61 a and received in lock63 a in column 64. After that the drive for cable 16/17 is started, as aresult of which, FIG. 10B, the column 64 is moved to the left. Inaddition a plough provision on the column 64 ensures progressing removalof the lid 26. When the column 64 has arrived at post 61 b the lockingdevice 62 is able to engage into its lock 63 a. The column 64 is thensecured. When moving the column the teeth 16 a on cable 16 also tookalong the cloth 10, wherein tensile force in the cloth has been keptwithin limits. In FIG. 10C it is indicated that several of thesearrangements may follow one another, consecutively, like in FIG. 1C-E.

Due to filling the tubes 201, 202 with cables 16,17 dirt will hardly beable to penetrate in there.

As can be seen in FIG. 11D, in this arrangement as well, in case thecloth 10 tends to move upwards, the teeth 16 a are able to press againsta wedge block 30, as a result of which the cloth 10 will be clamped justbelow the opening 3 a.

The cloth or sheet 10 is particularly composed of a fabric ofhigh-strength fibres, or is built up from an assembly of threads thathave equal or almost equal tensile strength in both horizontal and invertical direction and for the use according to the invention ispre-stretched. The high-strength fibres are particularly of a PE, suchas Dyneema (registered trademark), the stretch of which can be limited,for instance in the order of 0.5%. The cloth has been treated to bewatertight, such as by coating, which coating has a sufficiently highresistance against shearing forces or abrasive forces.

In one embodiment it is advantageous when the high-strength fibre is notonly used horizontally and vertically but also at angles, including 45degrees, in order to achieve that at impacts the cloth absorbs theforces evenly in many directions.

The above-mentioned publications show cloth-shaped water barriers whichhowever do not have the characterising properties of the proposedinvention. For instance there is no question of a cloth or sheet that ismovable within a frame nor is there question of a choice fortensile-strengthened clamping or indeed release of the seam edges of thecloth or sheet.

Publication DE 3527100A1 shows a cable in the seam of the cloth that issuspended between posts and as such functions as holder in thelongitudinal direction and thus keeps cloth 6 in an operational positionand therefore is not suggested to move the cloth to and out of anoperational position.

The seam with cable is not provided to absorb transversely orientedforces via a guide according to the invention, is not provided to berolled up and not adapted for in the rolled up condition, such as in aflattened condition, achieve saving of space for storage.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation ofpreferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of theinvention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fallwithin the spirit and scope of protection of the present invention willbe evident to an expert.

1-74. (canceled)
 75. Water barrier comprising a frame bounding a passagethat can be closed off against water, further comprising a flexiblewater-retaining cloth, a storage space for the cloth and transfer meansfor transferring the cloth from a storage condition accommodated in thestorage space, wherein the passage is open, to a water-retainingcondition, wherein the passage is at least partially closed off by thecloth.
 76. Water barrier according to claim 75, wherein the frame hastwo posts and a sill extending therebetween.
 77. Water barrier accordingto claim 76, wherein the frame comprises a bottom sill and/or top sill.78. Water barrier according to claim 75, comprising means for rolling upthe cloth or folding it together in the storage space.
 79. Water barrieraccording to claim 75, wherein the storage space is situated in thesill.
 80. Water barrier according to claim 75, wherein the storage spaceis situated in a post of the frame.
 81. Water barrier according to claim75, wherein the transfer means comprise a drive mechanism, whichcomprises a driven element that engages onto a longitudinal edge of thecloth, which longitudinal edge extends in direction of movement of thecloth between the storage condition and the water-retaining conditionedge of the cloth.
 82. Water barrier according to claim 81, wherein thedriven element is endless and circulating and at evenly distributedlocations drivingly engages onto the longitudinal edge of the cloth. 83.Water barrier according to claim 82, wherein the driving element extendsover at least substantially the entire passage, parallel to thedirection of movement of the cloth.
 84. Water barrier according to claim82, wherein the driven element only engages onto the part of the cloththat is discharged from the storage space.
 85. Water barrier accordingto claim 81, wherein the cloth is provided with a series of holes in thelongitudinal edge and the driven element is provided with projectionsfor driving engagement in the holes.
 86. Water barrier according toclaims 81, wherein the storage space is situated in a post of the frameand wherein the driven element engages onto a lower longitudinal edge ofthe cloth.
 87. Water barrier according to claim 81, wherein the storagespace is situated in the sill and wherein the driven element engagesonto a vertical longitudinal edge of the cloth.
 88. Water barrieraccording to claim 87, wherein a driven element engages onto eachvertical longitudinal edge of the cloth.
 89. Water barrier according toclaim 75, wherein the cloth is provided with a thickening at at leasttwo edges that are situated opposite each other.
 90. Water barrieraccording to claim 89, wherein the thickening is at least also formed bycloth edge material folded back onto itself, which preferably isattached onto itself.
 91. Water barrier according to claim 89, whereinthe thickening is deformable in transverse direction.
 92. Water barrieraccording to claim 89, wherein in a post or sill the frame is providedwith a guide for the thickening.
 93. Water barrier according to claim82, wherein the thickening in the water-retaining condition of the clothengages onto the guide in a watertight manner.
 94. Water barrieraccording to claim 89, wherein the thickening comprises a flexible cord,preferably accommodated in the cloth edge material, optionally over alimited portion of the edge in question, wherein the flexible cordpreferably is formed by a group of parallel elements, such as threads,which in a direction transverse thereto can be moved with respect toeach other for assuming different shapes, particularly between atwo-dimensionally grouped arrangement, such as in an ellipse or circle,and a one-dimensionally grouped arrangement, such as a lineararrangement of a series of adjacently situated elements.